warning AUDI Q7 2009 Owner´s Manual

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In stalling th e guidan ce fixtures
- Push down on the seat cushion so that the lower ancho r­
ages are vis ible.
- Hold the guidance fixture with t he part number facing
downward and push it in the direction of the arrow onto
the anchorage =>
page 279, fig. 266.
- Make sure that each of the two guidance fixtures per seat snaps into place.
Removing the guidan ce fixtures
- Re move the child restrain t according the child res tra int
ma nufactur er's instr uct ions.
- Push down on the seat cushion so that the lower anchor ­
ages are visib le.
- Pu ll off the guidance fixtures from the lower a nch orages.
- Always remove the gu idance fixtures and keep them in a
safe p lace when not in use .
You may find it easier to insta ll child restraints equipped with hooks
attached to straps without the guidance fixtures in place . If this is
the case, remove the guidance fixtures by pu lling them off the
anchorages. However, the guidance fixtures can he lp you to locate
the LATCH anchorages.
& WARNING
Improp er use of tether anchorage s or lower anchorages can cau se
s erio us persona l inj ury i n a cra sh .
• Alway s carefully foll ow the child restraint manuf acturer's
in stru ction s fo r prope r inst allati on and use of child re str aint
sy stems .
& WARN ING (continued )
• Never use the LATCH or tether anchor ages to attach safety
belt s or ot her kinds of occupant re st raint s.
• Child restra int tether attachments and lower attachment s are
only de signed to se cure a child re straint that ha s been equipped
to use the se anchor ages .
• Tether a nchorages and lower anchorage s are desig ned t o with ­
s tand only those load s imposed by correctly fitted child re straint s.
Under no cir cum sta nce s ca n they be used safel y for adu lt or ch ild
s afety belts or harne sse s.
• Never mount more than one child r estraint to a single tether o r
to a lower an chorage point. Att aching two child restraints to a
s ingle anchorage point can ca use the ancho rag e to fail and cau se
s eri ous per sonal injury in a c rash .
0 Note
• Remove the guidance fixtures before fo lding the rear seatback to
prevent damaging the seat cushion.
• If you leave the guidance fixtures installed for several days, they
cou ld leave a mark on the upholstery on the seat cushion and back­
rest in the area that the guidance fixtures were installed. The uphol ­
stery would also be permanent ly stretched around the guidance
fixtures . This applies especial ly to leather seats .
[ i ] Tip s
• Always remove the guidance fixtures when not in use.
• Please keep the guidance fixtures in a safe place with the vehicle
when not in use. •

Installing a child restraint using the lower
anchorages of the LATC H system
Child safety seats equipped with the LATCH system can
quickly and easily be secured to the rear
seats.
Fig . 267 LATCH-type
seat with both latch
bars extended
Fig. 268 Installation of
child safety seat with
rigid latches on bars
Whenever you install a child restraint always refer to the
child restraint manufacturer's instructions.
- Make sure the seat back of the rear seat bench is in the
upright position and securely latched in place.
- Install the guidance fixtures (only with third row of seats*) =>
page 279.
- Insert the latches onto the lower anchorages=> fig. 268.
Safety first
Child Safety
- Make sure you hear the child restraint click securely into
place. This indicates that the seat is securely mounted on
the anchors.
- Pull on the child restraint once you have mounted it to
make sure it is secure.
& WARNING
Improper use of the LATCH system can increase the risk of serious
personal injury and death in an accident.
• These anchors were developed solely for child safety seats
using the "LATCH" system.
• Never attach other child safety seats, belts or other objects to
these anchors.
• Always make sure that you hear a click when latching the seat
in place. If you do not hear a click the seat is not secure and could
fly forward and hit the interior of the vehicle, or be ejected from
the vehicle.
& WARNING
Improper installation of child restraints will increase the risk of
injury in an accident .
• Always follow the child restraint system manufacturer's
instructions for proper installation of the child restraint system
and proper use of tether straps as well as the lower anchorages or
safety belts in your vehicle.
• Always read and heed the important information and WARN­
INGS about child safety and the installation of child restraint
systems ~
page 263, "Child Safety". •
Vehicle care
I I irechnical data

___ C_h_ i_ld _ S_ a_ f_ e_ t-= y'------------------------------------------------
Mounting and releasing the anchorage hook
If you use a child restraint system with hooks or other
latches attached to adjustable strops.
Mounting
- Press the anchorage hook with the spring catch release
onto the lower anchorage so that the anchorage hook
locks into place.
Pull on the anchorage hook to make sure that it has
securely engaged the lower anchorage.
- Tighten the strap following the child restraint manufac­
turer's instructions.
Releasing
Loosen the tension on the strap following the child
restraint manufacturer's instructions.
- Depress the spring catch on the hook.
- Hold the spring catch in depressed position.
- Move the hook in the direction of the vehicle floor so that
there is enough space to release the anchorage hook
from the lower anchorage.
& WARNING
• Improper installation of child restraints will increase the risk of
injuries in a crash.
• Always refer to the child restraints manufacturer's instructions
for proper installation of the child restraint and proper use of the
lower anchorages or safety belts in your vehicle. •
Tether anchors
Fig. 269 Tether
anchors for second
row of seats: attach­
ment hook locations
Fig. 270 Tether
anchors for third row
of seats: attachment
hook locations
Beginning with model year 2000, the rear seating positions are
equipped with three tether anchors. For vehicles with third row
seats*, two tether anchors are present.
The tether anchors for the three rear seating positions in the second
row of seats are located underneath the seats in the back=> fig. 269.
For vehicles with third row seating*, the tether anchors for the two
seating positions in the third row of seats are stored underneath a
plastic cover cap in the floor=> fig. 270. .._

& WARNING
Improper installation of child restraints will increase the risk of
injury and death in a crash.
• Improper use of child restraint anchors (tether anchors) could
lead to injury in a collision. The anchors are designed to withstand
only those loads imposed by correctly fitted child restraints .
• Never mount two child restraint systems on one LATCH lower
anchor point .
• Never attach two child restraint systems to one tether strap or
tether anchorage .
• Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of
the child restraint you intend to install in your Audi .
• Never use child restraint tether anchorages to secure safety
belts or other kinds of occupant restraints.
• Never attach a tether strap to a tie-down hook in the luggage
compartment.
• Never secure or attach any luggage or other items to the LATCH
lower anchorages or to the tether anchors.
• If a tether or other strap is used to attach a child restraint to the
front passenger seat, make sure that it is not so tight, that it causes the weight-sensing mat to measure more weight than is
actually on the seat.
• The heavier weight registered can make the system work as
though an adult were on the seat and deploy the Advanced Airbag
when it must be suppressed causing serious or even fatal injury to
the child. •
Safety first
Child Safety
Tether strap
A tether is a straight or V-shaped strap that attaches the
top part of a child restraint to special anchorage points in
the vehicle.
Fig . 271 Tether strap
for second row seats:
proper routing and
mounting
Fig . 272 Tether strap
for third row seats:
proper routing and
mounting
Th e purpose of the tether is to reduce the forward movement of the
child restraint in a crash, in order to help reduce the risk of head
injury that could be caused by striking the vehicle interior.
Forward facing child restraints manufactured after September 1,
1999 , are required by U.S. federal regulations to comply with child
head movement performance requirements. These new perfor ­
mance requirements make a tether necessary on most new child
safety seats.
~
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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& WARNING
Improper installation of child restraints will increase the risk of
injury in a crash .
• Never atta ch a child safety seat tether strap to a tie-down hook
in the luggage compartment.
• Never se cure or attach any luggage or other items to the LATCH
lower anchorages or to the tether.
• If a tether or other str ap is used to attach a child restraint to the
front passenger seat, make sure that it is not so tight , that it
causes the weight-sensing mat to measure more weight than is
actually on the seat.
• The heavier weight registered can make the system work as
though an adult were on the seat and deploy the Advanced Ai rbag
when it must be suppressed causing serious or even fatal injury to
the child .•
Using tethers on rear-facing c hild restraint
sys tems
Currently, few rear -facing child restraint systems come with a tether .
Please read and heed the child rest raint system manufacturer's
instructions careful ly to determine how to properly insta ll the
tether .
& WARNING
A child in a rearward -facing child safety seat installed on the front
passenger seat will be ser iously injured and can be killed if the
front airbag inflates - even with an Advanced Airbag System .
• The inflating airbag will hit the child safety seat or infant
carrier with great force and will smash the child safety seat and
child against the backrest , center arm rest , or door .
& WARNING (continued )
• A tight tether or other strap on a rearward-facing child restraint
attached to the front passenger seat can put too much pressure
on the weight-m at in the seat and register a heavier weight in the
Advan ced Airbag System . The heavier weight regi stered can m ake
the system wo rk as though an adult were on the seat and deploy
the Advanced Airbag when it must be suppressed causing serious or even fatal inju ry to the child .
• If you must install a rearward facing child safety seat on the
front passenger seat because of exceptional circumstances and
the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light does not come on and stay on ,
immed iately install the rear-facing child safety seat in a rear
seating position and have the airbag sy stem inspected by your
authorized Audi dealer . •
Securing the upper tether strap to the anchor
bracket
F ig . 2 73 Tether strap
for second row seat s:
proper r outing and
m ounting ..

Fig. 274 Tether strap
for third row seats:
proper routing and
mounting
Securing the child restraint tether strap to the
tether anchor
- Release or deploy the tether strap on the child restraint
according to the child restraint manufacturer's usage
instructions.
- Guide the upper tether strap
under the rear head
restraint and into the rear cargo area (flip the head
restraint up and remove the cargo area cover, if neces­
sary).
- For the second row of seats: Pull the flooring back, in
order to reach the tether anchors~
page 284, fig. 273.
-For the third row of seats:* Remove the plast ic cover cap
with a screw driver, in order to reach the tether anchors
~ fig. 274 .
- Slide the tether strap hook over the anchor bracket.
- Pull on the tether strap hook so that the spring catch of
the hook engages.
- Tighten the tether strap firmly following the child
restraint manufacturer's instructions.
Safety first
Child Safety
-For the second row of seats: Push the flooring forward
into place again.
Releasing the tether strap
- Loosen the tension following the ch ild restra int manufac ­
turer 's instructions.
- Dep ress the spring catch on the hook and release it from
the tether anchor.
- For the second row of seats: Push the flooring forward
into place again.
- For the third row of seats:* Replace the plastic cover cap.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS.
0 Note
If you leave the child restraint with the tether strap firmly installed
for several days, this could leave a mark on the uphols tery on the
seat cushion and backrest in the area where the tether strap was
ins talled . The uphols tery would also be permanen tly st ret ched
around the tether strap. This applies especially to leather seats.•
Vehicle care
I I irechnical data

•
The direction in which the driver wishes to travel is determined with
t he aid of the steering angle and vehicle speed and is continua lly
compared with the actual behavior of the vehicle. If the two do not
match, for example, when the vehic le starts hydrop laning on a wet
road, ESP will automatically brake the appropriate whee l to correct
the prob lem.
The vehicle is then stab ilized by the forces acting on the whee l
during braking. If the vehicle is
oversteering (rear tends to skid out
of the turn), the brakes are mainly app lied on the wheel that is on
the outside of the curve. In the case of a vehicle that is
understeering
(tendency to sl ide out of the curve), the brakes are applied as
needed on the wheel that is on the inside of the curve or additionally
on the other wheels . An acoustic signal indicates when ESP brake
application cuts in
~ & .
The system operates across the entire speed range in combination
with the ABS system
~ page 292 . If the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) malfunctions, the ESP will b e out of action as well.
Ac tiva tin g
When you turn on the engine, ESP will automatically be activated
and wil l perform a se lf-tes t. As soon as the test is comp leted, the
system is in norma l operating mode.
Offro ad m ode
ESP should normally be operated in normal mode because this
ensures maximum vehicle stabil ity . If necessary, you can activate
the ESP offroad mode by pressing the button
~ page 288, fig. 275
to obtain maxi mum traction and braking abil ity when dr iving off
paved roads at low speeds . In ESP offroad mode , the ESP indicator
l ight ~
page 19 illuminates and the message E S P Offroad appears
briefly in the display.
The ESP offroad mode can be usefu l in the fo llowing exceptional
s ituat ions when slip or a high ly effective differential locking func ­
tion is desirable. Examples:
• when driv ing with t ire chains,
• when driving in deep snow or on loose ground,
Inte llig ent tec hn olo gy
• when driving on uneven surfaces with the wheels severely
unloaded (articulation), and
• when rocking the vehicle loose after it has become stuck .
When the unusual situation is pas t, you should shift back to the
normal ESP operating mode by pushing the button again. The
message
ESP /A SR on then appears briefly in the display.
Hill d escent contr ol
The hil l descent control is swi tched on in ESP offroad mode . When
s lowly descending steep gradients on loose ground or when the
ax les are a rticulated, h ill descent control provides assistance by
automatically applying the brakes to keep vehicle speed constant.
The vehicle is also rendered easier to steer by se lective distribution
of braking force . Hi ll descent control intervenes when:
• the accelerator pedal is not pressed,
• the veh ic le is trave lling less than 12 mph (20 km/hl,
• a steep gradient is detected,
• whee l behavior indicates loose ground or conditions with poor
adhesion (e .g . also axle articulation).
Hi ll descent control operates both driving forward and in reverse.
Active hill descent contro l is deactivated by pressing the accelerator
pedal until the conditions for activat ion a lready listed are met again .
& WARNING
• The Elect roni c Sta bil izati on Progr am is ne ve rt hele ss subject to
th e law s of phy sics. It is particul arly important to pay attention to
t hi s fa ct on we t and slippery ro ads . It i s therefore i mpo rtant th at
yo u a lw ays adapt your dri vin g to the condition of the ro ad and
traffi c conditions . Do n ot allo w the in cre ased sa fety provided by
the Elect roni c Stabili zation Progr am system to lull you into
ac cepting additional safety r isks.
• Please be aw are th at in ESP offroad mo de, parti cularl y on a
s m ooth and slippery road , the wheel s m ay have an incr eased •
I t •

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& WARNING (continued)
tendency to spin and the vehicle may break away -danger of skid­
ding!
• Stability is limited in the ESP offroad mode. •
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The electronic differential lock monitors the rotational
speed of the drive wheels.
General notes
The electronic differential lock (EDU helps the car to start moving,
accelerate and climb a gradient on surfaces providing poor or
almost no grip . Without EDL, this would be difficult, if not impos­
sible.
How the system works
The EDL operates automatically. It monitors the rotational speed of
wheels with the help of the ABS sensors=> page 292. If a noticeable
slip is detected at the wheels (e.g. on slippery ground on one side),
the spinning wheels are braked and power is transferred to the
other wheels. This is done up to a speed of about 60 mph (100 km/h).
Noises from the brake system signal that wheel spin is being
controlled.
Driving off
When driving off, always be sure to keep road conditions in mind as
you accelerate. If one drive wheel spins because it is on a surface
with less grip, apply plenty of throttle until the car starts to move.
Overheating of brakes
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating if
subjected to excessive loads on this wheel, the EDL cuts out tempo­
rarily. The vehicle remains operational and behaves in the same way
as a vehicle without EDL. As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL switches on again auto­
matically.
& WARNING
• When accelerating on slippery surfaces, such as on ice or snow,
always be careful when depressing the accelerator pedal . Even
with the EDL working, the drive wheels can spin and reduce your ability to control your car. Risk of crash!
• The increased safety afforded by EDL does not mean that you
can take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the EDL is also not functioning. This is
indicated by the ABS warning light=> page 22. •
Anti-Slip Regulat ion System (ASR)
The Anti-Slip Regulation System prevents the driven
wheels from spinning when the car is accelerating.
General notes
The Anti -Slip Regulation System (ASR) is integrated in the electronic
stabilization program (ESP) . When the vehicle starts up and acceler­
ates, the wheels are prevented from spinning by adjusting the
engine power to match the amount of grip available from the road
surface.
How the system works
ASR performs automatically, i.e. without the driver's intervention.
With the aid of the ABS sensors=> page 292, ASR monitors the
speed of the driven wheels. If the wheels start to spin, engine torque
is reduced automatically until the tires find enough grip to lock onto
the road surface. The system is active across the entire speed range . ..,

The ASR works in conjunction with the ABS. If a malfunction should
occur in the ABS, the ASR wil l also be out of action.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i ] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identica l tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also~
page 359, "New tires and rep lacing tires and wheels". •
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending large ly on operating conditions and driving habits~& .
On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads shou ld be checked by your autho ­
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Warranty & Main­
tenance booklet.
Failure to have your brake pads inspected can
result in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the braking effect of the engine .
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
Moisture
or road salt
If you are driving faster than 3 1 mph (50 km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads will briefly touch the brake discs in
regular intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, will not notice anything.
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few careful brake applications sho uld dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings .
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is driven on a salt -covered road and the brakes are not used. Here too,
you should clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and
pads with a few carefu l app lications of the brake ~& .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips with litt le use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
t he discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firm ly a few times from a moderately high speed~&.
Faults in the brake system
If you shou ld notice a sudden increase in brake peda l trave l, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed~& .
Low brake fluid le vel
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
too low . The brake fluid level is monitored electronically .
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi ­
tion of the brake pads through the openings in the wheel. If neces­
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection
~ page 373,
"Changing a whee l" . ._.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneu vers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit . Other
road u sers mu st not be put at r isk -you may cause an a ccident!
• Before des cending a steep grade, reduce speed and shift trans ­
mission into a lower gear or lower dr iving range . Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often. This could
cause the brake s to get hot and diminish braking effi ciency .
• Do not "ride the brakes " by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to b rake. This may cause the br ake s to ove rheat ,
premature wear and increased stopping distance.
• Under ce rtain climat ic and operating condit ions such as
passing through water , driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehi cle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced . In winter ,
ice can a ccumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums .
Carefully apply bra kes fo r a test . Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few careful brake appli cations .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -co vered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking effic iency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake dis cs and pads with a few
c areful brake applications .
• If you damage the front spoile r, or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not ob structed.
Otherw ise the brake sy stem could overheat reducing the effective­
ness of the entire brake system .
• Failure of one bra ke cir cuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance. Avoid driving the
vehicle and ha ve it towed to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qualified workshop . •
Brake booster
T he b rake boost er ad ds extra b ra kin g powe r.
The brake booster works with vacuum pressure which is created
o nly w he n t he e ngine is ru nnin g=> & .
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working, for example when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake boo ster has somehow been
damaged , the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of A!"lt"-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS p revents the wheels from locking up unde r brakin g.
Th e ABS co ntribu tes effect ively to vehicle cont ro l since it preve nts
the whee ls from
locking when the brakes are app lied. This means
t h at the ve hicle rema ins steerable and is less l ikely to s kid.
With ABS you do not need to pump the brake . Just hold the brake
pedal down .
However, do not expec t the A BS to s hor ten bra king d istance u nder
all circumstances. When driving o n grave l or on newly fallen snow
o n t op o f icy sur faces, brak ing d istance may be ev en lon ger, the re­
fore, under these c ircumstances, it is especially important that you
driv e slow ly an d with gre at ca re.
How the ABS system works
An a utomatic c heck is m ade w hen a speed of about 1 2 mph (2 0
km/h) is reached. When this happens, a pumping noise can be
h ea rd.